Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE30036
2008-03-21 23:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
DEMARCHE REQUEST FOR EMBASSY MINSK
how-toVZCZCXRO1839 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #0036/01 0812337 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O P 212333Z MAR 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHSK/AMEMBASSY MINSK IMMEDIATE 0779 INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0516 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 8762 RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 9344 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 3188
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 030036
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AMGT ODIP OFDP BO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST FOR EMBASSY MINSK
REF: A. MINSK 191
B. STATE 28931
Classified By: ACTING A/S KURT VOLKER
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 030036
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AMGT ODIP OFDP BO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST FOR EMBASSY MINSK
REF: A. MINSK 191
B. STATE 28931
Classified By: ACTING A/S KURT VOLKER
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. The Department, in
consultation with other USG agencies, has determined it is
in the USG interest to reduce the number of U.S. diplomatic
staff at embassy Minsk as demanded by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Ref A. Embassy Minsk is instructed to
inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) before 3:00 PM
local time on March 24 that the United States will reduce
U.S. diplomatic staff at Embassy Minsk to the level of the
Belarusian mission to the United States, despite our
continued objections that such parity is unwarranted and
not based on a standard in the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations. Stress the U.S. expectation that
Belarus will honor all its obligations under international
conventions and agreements. END SUMMARY AND ACTION
REQUEST.
--------------
Objectives
--------------
2. (C) Embassy Minsk is requested to pursue the following
objectives with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before 3:00
PM local time on March 24, 2008:
-- Provide a list of 17 U.S. diplomatic staff that will
remain in Belarus as U.S. diplomats accredited to the
Republic of Belarus. (List will be forwarded separately to
Charge by email from EUR.)
-- Inform the MFA that United States diplomatic staff who
will not remain in Belarus have been instructed by the
Department to depart Belarus, and that we are making every
effort to complete their departure by March 27, 2008.
-- Emphasize that the United States is taking this step
reluctantly, in order to maintain our diplomatic presence
in Minsk, which serves important objectives.
-- Reinforce U.S. regret that Belarus has chosen a path
that significantly complicates the possibility of improved
relations with the U.S. and our hope that the situation
will change in the future.
--Stress that the demand to reduce the size of the U.S.
mission to equal the size of the Belarusian mission in the
United States is unwarranted, not in keeping with normal
diplomatic practice, and is not based upon a standard in
the Vienna Convention.
-- Reiterate that Ambassador Khvostov is welcome to return
to the U.S. at any time, and we strongly hope both he and
Ambassador Stewart return to their posts shortly.
-- Stress the strong U.S. expectation that Belarus will
immediately cease its various actions against the U.S.
mission and honor all its obligations under international
conventions and agreements, consistent with the written
commitment to this effect that the President of the United
States received from President Lukashenka in 1998.
--------------
Background
--------------
3. (C) The Department has consulted with other USG agencies
with a presence at Embassy Minsk and has agreed on a list
of essential positions at the embassy at a staffing level
of 17. This list will be emailed separately to Charge from
EUR. Charge should present this list to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
4. (U) The Department is working to provide the departing
personnel with necessary authorizations for travel and
transportation, which will be sent septel.
STATE 00030036 002 OF 002
5. (U) Point of Contact in the Office of Ukraine, Moldova
and Belarus Affairs is Stephen Gee, Desk Officer for
Belarus, 202-736-4443, or GEESJ@STATE.SGOV.GOV.
Administrative point of contact in EUR-IO/EX is Pri Sen,
Post Management Officer, 202-736-7513 or SENPX@STATE.GOV .
RICE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL AMGT ODIP OFDP BO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST FOR EMBASSY MINSK
REF: A. MINSK 191
B. STATE 28931
Classified By: ACTING A/S KURT VOLKER
FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. The Department, in
consultation with other USG agencies, has determined it is
in the USG interest to reduce the number of U.S. diplomatic
staff at embassy Minsk as demanded by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Ref A. Embassy Minsk is instructed to
inform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) before 3:00 PM
local time on March 24 that the United States will reduce
U.S. diplomatic staff at Embassy Minsk to the level of the
Belarusian mission to the United States, despite our
continued objections that such parity is unwarranted and
not based on a standard in the Vienna Convention on
Diplomatic Relations. Stress the U.S. expectation that
Belarus will honor all its obligations under international
conventions and agreements. END SUMMARY AND ACTION
REQUEST.
--------------
Objectives
--------------
2. (C) Embassy Minsk is requested to pursue the following
objectives with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before 3:00
PM local time on March 24, 2008:
-- Provide a list of 17 U.S. diplomatic staff that will
remain in Belarus as U.S. diplomats accredited to the
Republic of Belarus. (List will be forwarded separately to
Charge by email from EUR.)
-- Inform the MFA that United States diplomatic staff who
will not remain in Belarus have been instructed by the
Department to depart Belarus, and that we are making every
effort to complete their departure by March 27, 2008.
-- Emphasize that the United States is taking this step
reluctantly, in order to maintain our diplomatic presence
in Minsk, which serves important objectives.
-- Reinforce U.S. regret that Belarus has chosen a path
that significantly complicates the possibility of improved
relations with the U.S. and our hope that the situation
will change in the future.
--Stress that the demand to reduce the size of the U.S.
mission to equal the size of the Belarusian mission in the
United States is unwarranted, not in keeping with normal
diplomatic practice, and is not based upon a standard in
the Vienna Convention.
-- Reiterate that Ambassador Khvostov is welcome to return
to the U.S. at any time, and we strongly hope both he and
Ambassador Stewart return to their posts shortly.
-- Stress the strong U.S. expectation that Belarus will
immediately cease its various actions against the U.S.
mission and honor all its obligations under international
conventions and agreements, consistent with the written
commitment to this effect that the President of the United
States received from President Lukashenka in 1998.
--------------
Background
--------------
3. (C) The Department has consulted with other USG agencies
with a presence at Embassy Minsk and has agreed on a list
of essential positions at the embassy at a staffing level
of 17. This list will be emailed separately to Charge from
EUR. Charge should present this list to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs.
4. (U) The Department is working to provide the departing
personnel with necessary authorizations for travel and
transportation, which will be sent septel.
STATE 00030036 002 OF 002
5. (U) Point of Contact in the Office of Ukraine, Moldova
and Belarus Affairs is Stephen Gee, Desk Officer for
Belarus, 202-736-4443, or GEESJ@STATE.SGOV.GOV.
Administrative point of contact in EUR-IO/EX is Pri Sen,
Post Management Officer, 202-736-7513 or SENPX@STATE.GOV .
RICE